Opponents of basing F-35 fighter jets in Vermont Air National Guard base have been asking why Burlington remains a top choice following the Air Force's environmental impact assessment. It said Burlington is not preferable environmentally because of the number of people that would be impacted by the jet's noise. Still, Burlington remains high on the list. On Thursday, leaders of VTANG offered theories as to why that may be.

Lt. Col Dan Finnegan, an F-16 pilot, suggests that could be because it would cost less to base it here than in other locations.

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"We are, so far, the cheapest base to put the F-35 in, which is something we are very proud of because of the status of our facilities," Finnegan said.

He also suspects Vermont scores well because the skies are less crowded here.

"Look at the airspace that's available in the Northeast, encroachment on our air space. We have air space up here that no one else has in the United States," Finnegan said, adding it gives VTANG a large area to train.

He also feels the region as a whole will be better off with the F-35.

"It'll operate above 23,000 feet. It'll be almost imperceptible.No one will even know it's there," Finnegan said, comparing the projected path of the F-35 to that of the current F-16, which flies lower to the ground.

The explanation comes on the heels of victory for opponents after the Winooski City Council voted to oppose the plane Wednesday night.

Two days earlier, the South Burlington City Council changed its position to one of support for the plane.

Guard officials aren't sure how these events will affect the Air Force's decision, but said they will be reviewed.

The U.S. Air Force has named the Vermont Air National Guard base a top location for the F-35, even though it says Burlington is not preferable environmentally -- that's because of the number of people that would be impacted the jet's noise.

The Air Force is accepting public comments on the basing of the F-35 until Monday.